What Are the Pros and Cons of Living in 55+ Communities?

Are you thinking of retiring and moving into an active adult community? What are the pros and cons of living in 55+ communities?  

Here are the benefits of living in a 55+ community.

PROS:

This is the best part of living in a 55+ community.  It’s like you’re on vacation everyday!

You will enjoy the amenities most 55+ communities offer. Some communities have a resort-like environment with a clubhouse equipped with kitchen and patios for community gatherings, HOA meetings, and seasonal parties. Indoor and outdoor pools, fitness centers, tennis, pickle ball and bocce courts, game room, biking and walking trails. Communities near a lake offer kayaking and canoeing for residents and some bigger communities have golf courses.

Don’t you like to have peace and quiet where you live?  (Sound of crickets or night insects.  No, that kind of quiet.) That is one of the reasons why people in their retirement age move to 55+ communities. But, bear in mind that 55+ communities are not child-free zones since grandchildren and family members are allowed to visit and use the amenities. Having said that, 55+ communities tend to be more quiet than a standard neighborhood.

MAINTENANCE-FREE LIVING

Are you tired of mowing your lawn or trimming shrubs and trees? Well, not anymore.  In a typical community, homeowners take care of their own lawns, shrubs, trees and other exterior maintenance. Whereas, homeowners of a 55+ community don’t have to worry about cutting the grass, shrubs and other outside maintenance. This is, however, included in the monthly HOA dues. 

SAFE ENVIRONMENT

Who doesn’t want to feel safe in the community where you live?  In 55+ communities, it’s generally safer to walk around at night than the regular neighborhood because of well-lit streets, sidewalks and common areas. Some communities are gated and with security staff on site.

OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE NEW FRIENDS

You’ve met friends since you were very young, and in high school and college and the places where you used to work. Now, this a new phase in your life to meet new friends and neighbors.  Most residents in 55+ communities like to participate in social events so, activities serve as a natural conversation starter and help people make new friends. It is easy to find people with common interest and wonderful friendships can result.

SUPPORT SYTEM

Don’t you wish you had that kind of support system when you were living in a standard community?  Some active adult communities have support system in place to meet the specific needs of people who need referrals for contractors, doctors, house cleaners, errand boys, and others. They get assistance with activities with daily living (ADLs).

SOMEONE TO LOOK AFTER YOUR HOME

This is why you need to make friends with your neighbors.  Majority of the time, residents of active adult or 55+ communities develop good relationships with their neighbors so they take care of each other’s home when they go on vacation. This is also true for some people who are willing to take care of their neighbor’s pets when they are away from home.

MULTIPLE PLANS AVAILABLE

Many 55+ communities were built and maintained with older adults in mind.  A common asset among all these floor plans and those available from most 55+ communities are that they are single-story homes or one and a half-story homes which have more livable square footage and reduced risks of fall.

IDEAL LOCATION

We are here in Charlotte North Carolina, an ideal place for 55+ communities.  The concept of 55+ living was developed for the convenience of residents who are over 55 years old.   Although these communities can be found in all 50 states, the greatest majority is located in a place where there is pleasant weather, near medical facilities, shopping centers and airports.

If you are searching for 55+ communities in North Carolina, specifically 55+ or active adult communities in Charlotte, NC, I recommend checking out Charlotte and the surrounding areas where you’ll find dozens of beautiful 55+ communities.

Now, let’s talk about the cons of living in a 55+ community.

CONS

HOA DUES

Yikes! $250 to $350 per month for HOA fees?  The HOA dues in most 55+ communities in North Carolina specifically 55+ communities in Charlotte North Carolina are high. They run from $250 to $350 a month in Greater Charlotte.  HOA dues are higher than a standard community because they include yard maintenance and use of all the amenities in the community.  Some communities have in-house lifestyle director. And some communities include security system, cable, and trash pick-up in the monthly HOA fees. Plus, you get to use tons of amenities like a resort-style amenities.

LACK OF AGE DIVERSITY

Since active adult communities usually require a minimum of one person in the residence be at least 55 years old, there is a lack of age diversity within the community.  Well, that is the reason why people in their retirement age are moving into for 55 plus or active adult communities.  They do love children. Of course, they have their own children and grandchildren who are welcome to visit them. They just want a company of friends and neighbors at the same stage of life.

SMALLER HOMES

Most homes in 55+ communities are designed for two adults to live comfortably. They tend to be smaller than homes on standard community.  Most floor plans offer ample space for entertaining but would be a challenge if there are large group of guests. There are communities that offer from 3 to 5 bedrooms and from 1,800 to over 3,000 sq. ft.

NO CARE SERVICES ARE INCLUDED

Active adult communities or 55+ communities do not provide healthcare services of any kind as part of the monthly HOA fees. These communities are not retirement centers or assisted living facilities. Basically, 55+ communities would fall under the same category as “aging at home”.

Do you want to learn more about 55+ communities or active adult communities? Just contact us so we can help you make an informed decision on how to choose the best 55+ community for your retirement years. And if you want  to see homes for sale in all 55+ communities in the Charlotte, NC area, please visit our website at CharlotteActiveAdults.com Call Lynn Alvarez at 704-975-2429 or Albert Alvarez at 704-957-2232.